Last year is now in the rear-view mirror and we are now 9 days into the new year. Every year it seems like I make resolutions, only to break them shortly after.

This year I decided to do something a bit different; I made small goals. Things that to me were easily attainable, but also a small pathway to get back to things that I enjoy.

The first goal was to get back into physical fitness, now that is not to say I was a couch potato. I walk to and from work every day and honestly if a place is within walking distance, I’d rather use my legs then get in a vehicle and drive there. I made a goal of 3 workouts a week and as of this first week of January I have stuck to that. I know we are only a week in, but you need to celebrate the little wins.

The second goal was to get back into art, aiming for one tutorial a week. When the pandemic hit, I got this grand idea to pick up a drawing pad and pencil, never having drawn before. I watched art tutorials and learned on my own. It was calming and therapeutic considering what was going on in the World at the time, no different than now, where the World seems to be one giant dumpster fire.

The third was to dedicate Friday mornings to write a blog post…. this is my second for the new year. As well as it pairs nicely with my fourth goal of 5 minutes of writing a day. I used to love writing, especially when I was younger. It was a way to tap into my creative side, as well as be able to express myself, so as to be able to release whatever I was holding onto. I wrote poetry and short stories, with the hopes that maybe one day I’d get published. That dream is still very much alive, and it is never too late to dream big.

My last and final goal was to eat more balanced plant-based meals. I’ve been mainly plant-based for a while; however, I struggle with finding balance. My meals tend to be chaotic, especially towards the end of the day, when I don’t have plan and rarely know what I want to eat. So, the goal is to focus on having a plan of what I want to eat, especially after a long day of working.

These goals are just a path, a path to getting back to what breathes life into me. I am not going to beat myself up, if I am not absolute perfection with meeting them. It is about taking one day at a time and celebrating those little wins along the way.